Police: Man tried to pass counterfeit money, had other fake bills

Bethlehem Township police charged a man after h tried to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at a store and had 19 other suspected fake bills on Saturday, according to court records.

Arthur Earl Dennis Jr., 41, of South Richmond, N.Y., is charged with forgery, criminal attempted theft by deception and possessing instruments of crime. He is in Northampton County Prison under $40,000 bail.

Additional criminal charges are pending and the U.S. Secret Service is also investigating, police said.

According to court records:

Shortly before 9 p.m., township police were called to the Best Buy at 4413 Birkland Place.

The store's manager told police that a man police identified as Dennis tried to purchase a $29.99 memory card with a $100 bill.

When the bill was examined, it was determined to be counterfeit. Police said Dennis was denied the sale and left the store.

Store employees told police that over the past several weeks, Dennis passed several fake $100 bills.

Police found Dennis at another nearby store and witnesses identified him as the suspect.

Investigators asked Dennis how he arrived in the township and he said he took a bus from New York City. Dennis told police that had lived with a girlfriend in Easton and worked at a barber shop in New York.